A round-up of today's other stories in brief
West of Ireland final set to be shown live online
THE West of Ireland Championship will go live this year. Former winner Joe Lyons has launched a new golf community on line.
Golfwithamember.comwill enable golfers from around the globe to watch this year's West of Ireland final online.
The final will be shown on the new golf community site with a delay of approximately five minutes on live action.
Golfwithamember.comis the brainchild of former West of Ireland champion, Lyons.
The online community “does exactly what it says in the tin” and encourages members of golf clubs to interact with each other and arrange golf at each others clubs.
This can be done with friends old and new.
The community also offers clubs the chance to join. It will assist clubs in coming together and co-operating on marketing their product. The site is free to join for both members and clubs.
Lyons suggests that this increased online engagement will generate extra rounds of golf for clubs which will be good for green-fee revenue.
Lyons, a social care professional, has pledged 20 per cent of all proceeds to charity and has nominated Galway Hospice and Hope House as two of the four beneficiaries.
It is free to join for golfers and clubs.
Delaney returns to defend title
IRISH International Karen Delaney of Carlow will defend the Cassidy Travel-sponsored Woodbrook Scratch Cup which will take place on April 22nd.
Delaney won the title with a course record in the second round on a countback from Mary Dowling of New Ross last year.
Woodbrook, the venue for the Leinster Youths on April 10th-12th, is one of the six counting events for points in the Titleist Scratch Cup circuit.
Entries for the Scratch Cup close on April 12th. Entry is limited to the first 60 lowest handicap of 12 or under.
Forms can be downloaded from ILGU and Woodbrook sites.
McElroy seals Alliance Captain's Prize
MILLTOWN was the venue for the Leinster Ladies Alliance Captain’s Prize last week and victory went to Sheena McElroy.
A score of 74 was enough to earn her victory and claim Penny Gleeson’s prize by a single stroke from Fionnuala Halpin by a single shot.
In what was a close contest, Gertie McMullen was third on 76 and Ursula O’Reilly fourth with 77.
The gross prize went to Deirdre Walsh with 77, three better than Pauline Walsh.
Alison Taylor won the golfer of the year crown.
** THE agm and draw for this season’s Best Cup will take place tomorrow, in Malahide Golf Club, at 7.30pm. As usual it will be preceded by a nine-hole singles competition for all the delegates.
There is no timesheet for this event with the course available from 3pm. onwards and the book will be in the pro shop.
** The Solheim Cup, held at Killeen Castle in Co Meath last September, was worth €37 million to Ireland, according to new post-event analysis by Repucom International and Sports Marketing Surveys.
The event’s total economic impact for the host county of Meath was €23 million, with an additional €14 million of value arising from brand exposure through international television, print and online coverage.
All-Ireland Ladies Fourball event
MIELE, the manufacturer of domestic appliances, have announced their sixth year of sponsorship with the Irish Ladies Golf Union and the All-Ireland Ladies Fourball Championship.
This tournament provides women golfers across the country the opportunity to win an All-Ireland national pennant in a fourball matchplay format.
Last year’s champions Lucan will start the defence of their title with a first-round tie against Howth while runners-up Faithlegg face Waterford Castle.
Last year’s northern champions Mannan Castle play Tandragee while western champions Mountbellew face a tricky assignment at Roscommon.
With a record entry of 246 club entered for this year competition the north and east regional finals will take place at Co Meath GC on September 3rd while the south and West finals take place at Limerick GC a week later.
Kennedy wins Hilary Society outing
THE fifth outing of the RaboDirect-sponsored Hilary GS took place in beautiful but testing conditions at Co Louth on Sunday with victory going to two-handicapper Fergal Kennedy from The Island with a nett 67.
Kennedy was four under par for the first nine including an eagle on the par-five third hole. Having slipped with three bogies early on the back nine he closed strongly, recording two more birdies.
Kennedy’s clubmate Robert Hutton, playing off a handicap of six, finished runner-up, while Dermot O’Raw from Castle Dargan, also off six, finished third.
The best gross score was returned by Jim Mulready from the Castle with a 74, while Gary Murphy, the pro from Doonbeg returned a fine 72.
The team prize was won by Stephen Prendergast from Royal Dublin, Terry Lilly from Slade Valley and Joe Hutton from Corrstown with a net 62. The next outing will be held in Portmarnock on April 13th.
Doherty claims Captain' Prize
THE curtain came down on the North Western Golfing Alliance season last Saturday when they visited Rosapenna GC for their Captain’s Prize and, for once, the weather conditions were favourable, a fact reflected in the good scoring.
After a season dogged by some dreadful weather it made a change for the sun to shine and the rain to hold off.
And taking home Noel Callan’s Captains Prize was Buncranas James Doherty, who playing off a handicap of 14 recorded a score of 68.
The nett winner on the day was Dunfanaghy’s Keith Lapsley who shot 70 for a slender one-shot victory over a host of 71s including John Lewers (14) from Faughan Valley, Michael Doherty (7) of Buncrana and Strabane’s Marty McDermott (5).
Once again the winner in the gross section was Michael McGeady who won for the third successive outing, on this occasion with a score of 68, five better than the host club’s Enda Kennedy, while John G McBride from Portsalon was third with 74.
It was also announced that long-time Alliance member Marty McDermott from Strabane would be captain for the 2012/2013 season in what will be their 44th season.
